[imagesource: Shoprite]

As you are no doubt well aware, today sees the return of alcohol sales between 9AM and 5PM.

Those operating hours remain the same from Tuesday through to Thursday, but no liquor sales will be allowed from Friday through to Sunday, or on public holidays.

A reminder that you can also buy from restaurants, bars, and other venues with liquor licences for off-site consumption, so if you were looking for your chance to support a struggling local business, this may be it.

Tunnel-digging crooks in Newtown Junction couldn’t quite wait until June 1, though, gaining access to a Shoprite LiquorShop on May 21 and stealing a solid R300 000 worth of beer, vodka, whisky, brandy, gin, and ciders.

I see from the image above that they popped up close to the really cheap wine, but these are indeed desperate times.

This from TimesLIVE:

The manager of the store discovered the theft, and a large hole in the floor, when she entered the store on Friday. She was returning to prepare for the store’s reopening under level 3 on Monday.

“With alcohol in high demand during the lockdown, the store was secured from the outside throughout. The suspects avoided the mall’s main entrance and instead used electrical and storm water tunnels beneath the shopping centre to gain access to an area beneath the store,” said Shoprite. “They then tunnelled through the solid concrete floor directly into the shop.”

It is unclear how the thieves knew where to tunnel, nor how long it took them to get through the thick concrete floor, but they returned a few times to steal a large amount of stock.

It’s like Shawshank Redemption, but instead of tunnelling to freedom, they stole booze. I know it’s wrong, but I can’t help but be just a little impressed.

According to Oswald Meiring, the Shoprite Group’s loss control manager, suspects were first seen on CCTV cameras on May 21, with the footage showing three suspects.

It is possible that there may have been additional people involved in the transportation of liquor along the tunnel.

Clearly, this crime has struck a nerve, and there is a R50 000 reward (subject to terms and conditions) for information that leads to a successful arrest.

If you have any information, call 0800 118 879, or email service@asesa.co.za.

[source:timeslive]